Treatment Works: Get Help for Depression

As a practicing psychologist, if I share only one piece of information with service members who experience depression, it is: Treatment works.

October is Depression Screening Awareness Month, but depression is an important issue all year. We know that depression is prevalent. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States, and women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience depression.

As director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), I want to get the word out that depression is treatable. It is important to note that even the most serious cases of depression can be treated – and the sooner the treatment begins, the better. Patients have many options for treatments that work including psychotherapy – such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness – and a number of medications.

Depression 101: Depression is treatable. Signs and symptoms of depression include: Persistent sadness, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, hopelessness, irritability, restlessness, diminished interest or pleasure in activities, fatigue, problems concentrating or thinking clearly, insomnia, excessive sleeping, overeating/appetite loss, thoughts of suicide. Types of depression include: major depressive disorder: severe symptoms that interfere with our ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life; persistent depressive disorder: depressed mood that lasts for at least 2 years; Postpartum depression: depression brought on by hormonal and physical changes and the new responsibility of caring for a newborn; Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight — the depression generally lifts during spring and summer. Causes of depression are biological, psychological, environmental, and genetic. Depression by the numbers: 6.6 % of adults 18 or older had a major depressive episode in 2014 (NSDUH, 2014). 11.4% of adolescents age 12-17 had a major depressive episode in 2014 (NSDUH, 2014). Women are nearly 2X as likely as men to experience depression (NIMH). From 2004-2012, more service members were hospitalized for depression than any other category of mental disorders (MSMR, Jul 2013). Treatments for depression include: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): a structured, short-term therapy based on the theory that depression is caused by certain patterns of thinking and behaviors; problem-solving therapy (PST): treatment based on the theory that depression can be caused in part by problems in a person's life stacking up and leading them to feel overwhelmed; interpersonal therapy (IPT): a short-term therapy based on the idea that some people experinece depression because of problematic relationships; anti-depressant medications (ADM): medications thought to correct chemical imbalances in the brain that occur when a person is depressed

In an environment where obtaining mental health care can feel intimidating, it is important that we make the resources available to those in need. It is also important to educate all levels of leadership about depression and other mental health concerns. I want all of our military leaders to know that there shouldn’t be stigma associated with getting care. Psychotherapy and medication work. We have the tools and experts to deliver both, and mental health care in a military setting is always delivered on par with every other type of medical care.

Another important reason to treat depression is the fact that it can be tied to other illnesses. It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in populations. Sick folks are often depressed. Depressed folks are often sick.

A vital part of the mission of DCoE is to get the resources into the hands of service members, family members and providers when they need them. The first step to getting help is to know the signs. The signs of depression include:

a persistent sad mood

inability to have fun

irritability (especially in children)

problems with energy, sleep, appetite and concentration

suicidal thoughts or actions are never normal and always a cause for concern. Suicidality requires medical intervention.

If you have these symptoms yourself or see these signs in a loved one, get help.

Over the past few weeks, as the leading office for the Defense Department in advancing excellence in psychological health and traumatic brain injury prevention and care, we’ve highlighted several depression screening tools and resources on the DCoE website, DCoE Blog and social media channels. For more resources, from our centers and partner organizations, please see the list below:

Afterdeployment offers free depression screening. A self-assessment is not only easy, it can be your first step toward getting the help you need.

The Real Warriors Campaign has many articles on how to manage depression. The Real Warriors Campaign encourages help-seeking behavior among service members, veterans and military families.

The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is dedicated to research and education on trauma and PTSD. The center works to ensure the latest research findings help those exposed to trauma. This organization has resources and tools for those living with PTSD.

Service members in crisis should seek help immediately by going to the nearest emergency room, or contacting the Military Crisis Line. Dial 800-273-8255 (press 1 for military) for 24/7 crisis support. The crisis line provides a confidential chat and text service (838255). Family members and friends of service members or veterans can also use the Military Crisis Line to reach immediate help.

Comments (2)

Azerty, it's important to remember that psychological disorders are diagnosable and treatable. We steer away from words such as "crazy" because they can foster stigma. If you are worried about yourself or someone you know, the DCoE Outreach Center is available 24/7 to answer questions and point to resources. Call 866-966-1020, email resources@dcoeoutreach.org or live chat at realwarriors.net/livechat.

Add new comment

DCoE welcomes your comments.

Please do not include personally identifiable information, such as Social
Security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, or e-mail addresses in the body
of your comment. Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, or any
other material deemed inappropriate by site administrators will be removed.
Your comments should be in accordance with our full comment policy regulations. Your participation
indicates acceptance of these terms.

Notice: This website has scheduled maintenance from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the 3rd Saturday of each month, during which time the site and its services may be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.